Operation RUMAN

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Mounts Bay was deployed to the Caribbean in July 2017 in preparation for the 2017 hurricane season[2] and was therefore able to render immediate assistance as the storm passed northwards.

RAF C17, Voyager and A400M aircraft were deployed carrying medical supplies and aid including emergency shelter kits, rations and clean water.

[10] With Hurricane Maria approaching on 18 September it was announced that the 1,300 British personnel already in the region would remain on the affected islands or in locations nearby to render immediate assistance.

In total, Ocean delivered 8,300 man hours of engineering and logistical support enabling the recovery of critical national infrastructure alongside large scale clean-up operations across four separate island chains.

[13] By 10 October, the military effort was winding down, 40 Commando Royal Marines flew back to the United Kingdom[14] and Ocean sailed for Miami for refueling and storing before resuming her NATO mission in the Mediterranean.

Following the all clear, the helicopter, callsign X-Ray One arrived at first light into Turks and Caicos and for 36 hours was the main aid to the Islands in assessing damage and transporting people, leading to the declaration of the state of emergency.